Catapult game including striking wallet and receiver

ABSTRACT

A portable amusement device that also trains and develops the manual dexterity and coordination skills of a wide range of human subjects. The amusement device generally comprises a pivotal lever member having a rearward-portion and a forward-portion extending in opposite directions from a fulcrum; the lever forward-portion carries at least one projectile that is adapted to be catapulted freely upwardly rearwardly therefrom toward the operator who attempts to retrievably capture the projectile in mid-air with an appropriate receptacle.

United States Patent Welbourn June 13, 1972 CATAPULT GAME INCLUDING STRIKIN G WALLET AND RECEIVER [72] Inventor: Dale K. Welbourn, PO. Box 26, Neola,

Iowa 5 l5 5 9 [22] Filed: July 23, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 57,726

[52] US. Cl. ..273/95 R, 273/96 R, 124/4, 124/49 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63b 63/00 [58] Field of Search ..273/95 R, 96 R, 97; 124/4, 124/6, 49

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,582,075 6/1971 Glass 124/4 Reiner Davis 1 24/4 1,276,308 8/1918 Arden ..124/49 2,617,651v 11/1952 Gerhold ...273/96 R 2,442,296 5/1948 Lang 273/97 R 1,785,876 12/1930 Pilates ..273/96 R Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerMarvin Siskind Attomey-George R. Nimmer [5 7] ABSTRACT A portable amusement device that also trains and develops the manual dexterity and coordination skills of a wide range of human subjects. The amusement device generally comprises a pivotal lever member having a rearward-portion and a forward-portion extending in opposite directions from a fulcrum; the lever forward-portion carries at least one projectile that is adapted to be catapulted freely upwardly rearwardly therefrom toward the operator who attempts to retrievably capture the projectile in mid-air with an appropriate receptacle.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUN 13 I972 DALE K. WELBOUR/V INVENTOR.

A TORNEY CATAPULT GAME INCLUDING STRIKING WALLET AND RECEIVER It is the general object of the present invention to provide an amusement device that provides amusement, challenge, and develops the physical dexterity and coordination skills for a wide range of human subjects.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an amusement device that is adapted to teach basic scientific principles relating to static and dynamic leverage, to impart forces and momentum, and to the effects of vectorial forces upon catapulted and falling projectiles.

It is a further object to provide an amusement device that might be provided in readily portable form, and that can be utilized by a single operator or by alternating contestants.

It is another object to provide an amusement device that not only provides enjoyment and teaches basic principles of statics and dynamics, but also helps to develop the depth perception and physical quickness and dexterity of the operator.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, which will become more apparent as this description proceeds, the catapult amusement device generally comprises: an upwardly extending base member; a lever member having a medial-portion pivotably attached as a fulcrum to the base member along a transverse-axis, the lever member including a rearward-portion and a forward-portion extending in opposite directions from the fulcrum transverse-axis, the lever rearward-portion being free to accelerate briefly downwardly when sharply downwardly struck by a mallet means; at least one projectile appropriately carried by the lever forward-portion and being adapted to be catapulted freely upwardly (and preferably also with a rearward vectorial component) away from the lever forward-portion as the lever rearward-portion is downwardly sharply accelerated; and a portable receptacle, preferably integrally combined with the mallet means, wieldable by the operator for capturing the catapulted projectile.

In the drawing, wherein like characters refer to like parts in the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a representative embodiment of the catapult amusement device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detail view ofFlG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational view similar to FIG. 2 showing an alternate embodiment projectile as a figurine.

The catapult amusement device as embodiment D generally comprises: an upwardly extending base member a lever member 20, the lever medial-portion 20M being pivotably attached to base member 10 to provide a fulcrum 23 extending along horizontal transverse-axis 22; at least one projectile, e.g. 70, 75, carried by the lever forward-portion 20F and adapted to be catapulted upwardly away therefrom when the lever rearward-portion 20R is downwardly sharply accelerated by a mallet, hammer, or other impact implement; and a portable receptacle, e.g. 100, 105, manually wieldable by the operator.

Base member 10 herein comprises a substantially horizontal elongate rectangular plate 11 having a pair of longitudinally extending parallel edges 12, and having a pair of transversely extending parallel edges including a rear-edge l4 and a frontedge 15. The base member plate portion 11 also includes a pair of parallel elongate broad surfaces including a horizontal upper surface 16 and a horizontal lower planar surface 17 whereby plate 11 is adapted to stably rest upon a suitable horizontal underlying planar substrate S," such as a table top. Base member 10 includes an upwardly extending upperportion, herein as a pair of transversely aligned posts 18 and 19, each post extending integrally uprightly from plate upper surface 16. There is a transverse gap between first-post 18 and second-post 19 to accommodate lever medial-portion 20M therebetween whereby posts 18 and 19 together provide a clevis for lever 20. Posts 18 and 19 are secured to plate 11 by conventional fastening techniques, as by screw 99, adhesive, nails, etc. Herein, base member 10 also includes a cylindrical lug 13 extending upwardly from plate 11, and herein threadedly attached to plate 11. Lug 13, positioned forwardly of clevis 18-19 and forwardly of transverse-axis 22, has an upper abutment-surface 13A which will be explained later in greater detail.

Lever member 20 herein takes the form of an elongate bar extending along a longitudinal-axis 21 and having a finite length along longitudinal-axis 21 extending from bar forwardend 25 to bar rearward-end 24. Bar 20 is of substantially regular transverse cross-sectional shape along axis 21 whereby bar 20 has a pair of opposed planar parallel sides, each side extending longitudinally between bar ends 24 and 25, including bar upper-side 26 and bar lower-side 27. Lever 20 includes a medial-portion located between its ends 24 and 25, said medial-portion herein indicated as 20M being pivotably attached to the base member upper-portion with a horizontal pivotpin 23 extending along transverse-axis 22 through clevis 18-19 and intervening medial-portion 20M. Thus, lever 20 has its fulcrum 23 along transverse-axis 22, and lever 20 has a rearwardportion 20R extending rearwardly from axis 22 to bar rearward-end 24 and a forward-portion 20F extending forwardly from axis 22 to bar forward-end 25. Longitudinal-axis 21 is perpendicular to axis 22 and to fulcrum 22. Bar 20 desirably has more than one transverse hole 29 therethrough (each hole intersecting axis 21), and transverse pivot-pin 23 is removably slidably disposed through clevis posts 18-19, whereby the relative moments of lever portions 20F and 20R can be selectively varied.

It can be seen that fulcrum 22 and bar lower-side 27 are each loftily disposed above plate upper surface 16. Thus, lever rearward-portion 20R is free to move downwardly a finite distance and lever forward-portion 20F rises (as'indicated in phantom line in FIG. 2) when external impact forces as through a mallet means, e.g. are briefly applied downwardly against lever rearward-portion 20R. However, at static conditions, i.e. absent the external application of downward impact forces to lever rearward-portion 20R, the lever forward-portion 20F is at a dovmward normal-station (indicated in solid line in FIGS. l-4). Amusement device D necessarily includes means to downwardly normally urge the lever forward-portion to said normal-station during the absence of externally applied downward impact forces to the lever rearward-portion. While such means might take the form of a spring means (not shown), herein the greater moment about fulcrum 22 for lever forward-portion 20F as compared to that for lever rearward-portion 20R is utilized. At the downward normal-station for lever forward-portion 20F, bar longitudinal-axis 21 is desireably substantially horizontal, said term being herein defined to mean that the maximum angular incline or decline for longitudinal-axis 21 with respect to a horizontal plane passing through transverse-axis 22 does not exceed about (15). The degree of inclination or declination for the static condition of lever forward-portion 20F is herein controlled by the elevation for abutment-surface 13A which is abuttable against bar lower-side 27.

One type catapultable projectile comprises at least one, and preferably a plurality of, spherical balls 70, carried by lever forward-portion 20F along an internal longitudinal-bore 31. Longitudinal-bore 31 extends rearwardly from lever forwardend 25 and circularly surrounds longitudinal-axis 21 whereby said bore 31 has a rearward terminus 32 located forwardly of transverse-axis 22. A cylindrical plug 25A at lever forwardend 25 extends into bore 31 whereby plug 25A acts as a forward-wall defining the bore forward terminus 33. Lever forward-portion 20F is also provided with a circular upright-bore 35 extending downwardly from bar upper-side 26 along boreaxis 35A to intersect longitudinal-bore 31 at the forward terminus 33 thereof. The diameters for the respective circular bores 31 and 35 exceed the diameter of each said spherical pellet projectile 70. A plurality of spherical pellets 70 of the same diameter are shown rollably disposed along longitudinalbore 31, loadable therein through upright-bore 35. For the shown rollable spheres 70, longitudinal-bore 31 desireably angularly declines from bore rearward terminus 32 when lever forward-portion 20F is at its static normal-station to ensure that a projectile 70 will be located at upright-bore 35, ready to be upwardly catapulted therethrough. In this vein, declination of longitudinal-bore 31 is ensured through the appropriately chosen elevation for abutment-surface 13A of threadably adjustable lug 13. At the forward-portion 20F normal-station, upright-bore 35 preferably extends both rearwardly and upwardly from longitudinal-bore 31 and axis 21; thus, a rearward vectorial direction is furnished to catapulted projectile 70, as along a parabolic path P" extending ultimately toward lever rearward-portion 20R.

There is a receptacle manually wieldable by the operator for retrievably capturing therein the catapulted projectile. While the impact type implement for downwardly accelerating the lever rearward-portion 20R might be a conventional manually wieldable mallet, hammer, or the like, the impact type implement is preferably combined with a cup-like receptacle 105 to provide the novel mallet-receptacle structure 100 shown in the drawing. The mallet-receptacle combination 100 comprises an elongate handle portion 101 manually engageable by the operator, there being a relatively heavy cylindrical head portion 102 attached to the handle forward end. Head portion 102 has a pair of planar sides including a striking-surface 103 adapted to be struck firmly against lever rearward-portion upper-side 26. There is a cup-like receptacle 105 attached to the other head side 104; as can be seen in FIG. 2, the endward opening 106 of receptacle 105 is cross-sectionally larger than is the cross-sectional size of cylindrical head 102 to facilitate capture of the catapulted receptacle, e.g. 70, 75.

The mallet-receptacle 100 is utilized by the operator as follows. First, as indicated by the double-headed arrow in FIG. 2, the mallet head striking-surface 103 is struck briefly sharply downwardly against lever rearward-portion 20R to catapult a projectile 70 freely upwardly away from lever forward-portion 20F (as along rearwardly extending parabolic path P). Secondly, and instantaneously thereafter, the operator endeavors to capture the catapulting projectile into receptacle 105. Since the striking (impact) and retrieval motions require the same implement 100, the said combination structure 100 presents an unusual challenge to the operators quickness, dexterity, and visual perception.

When a plurality of spherical projectiles 70 are rollably disposed along longitudinal bore 31, there might be restraining means to prevent more than one projectile from being catapulted upwardly through upright'bore 35 during each downward impact against lever rearward-portion 20R. In this vein, assuming dimensionally similar spheres 70, the diameter of upright-bore 35, and also the diameter of longitudinal-bore 31 at its juncturewith upright-bore 35, should not exceed the spherical diameter by more than about 25 percent.-Arbitrary selection of the relative moments for lever portions 20F and 20R (as through holes 29) and selection of the slope of axis 21 (as through lug 13), presents means to change the slope and intensity of the projectile flight path.

An alternate type projectile is the upright figurine 75 of FIG. 4, which is loosely positioned upon the upper-side 26 of the lever forward-portion 20F. It can be seen that the figurine will be catapulted upwardly away from lever forward-portion 20F as the lever rearward-portion 20R is sharply accelerated downwardly. The desireable rearward component might be imparted to the catapulting path for figurine 75, e.g. along parabolic path P, if the figurine upright axis 75A (as figurine 75 loosely rests upon static lever 20) extends upwardly and rearwardly of bar longitudinal-axis 21. An upwardly rearwardly extending axis 75A can be attained, for example, when bar longitudinal-axis 21 is substantially horizontal" and the figurine lower surface 76 (resting against bar upper-side 26) is slightly oblique to axis 75A. However, the permissible slope ranges for flight path P attainable with the FIGS. 2-3 spherical projectiles exceed those attainable for the loosely resting figurine projectiles of FIG. 4.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the catapult amusement device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

l. A catapult amusement device comprising:

A. An upwardly extending base member;

B. A lever member having a medial-portion pivotably attached as a fulcrum to an upper-portion of the base member with a pivotal-connection extending along a transverse-axis, said lever member having a rearwardportion extending rearwardly from the pivotal-connection and also having a forward-portion extending forwardly from said pivotal-connection, said lever member rearward-portion being free to move downwardly a finite distance upon the exertion thereto of downwardly sharply applied impact forces;

C. Means to downwardly normally urge the lever forwardportion to a normal-station during the absence of said downward impact forces to the lever rearward-portion;

D. At least one projectile carried by the lever forward-portion and adapted to be catapulted upwardly away from the lever forward-portion when the lever rearward-portion is briefly subjected to said sharp downward impact forces by the operator; and i E. A portable mallet having a two sided head portion, one of the mallet head sides being a striking surface adapted to be struck downwardly against the lever rearward-portion and the other of said mallet head sides carrying a cup-like receptacle for retrieving the upwardly catapulted projectile.

2. The catapult amusement device of claim 1 wherein the lever member is elongate comprising an elongate bar having a finite length extending along alongitudinal-axiswhich is substantially perpendicular to the said transversevaxis, said elongate bar having a forward-end and a rearward-end; 'and wherein there are means for imparting a rearward vectorial component to the upwardly catapultable projectile to facilitate retrieval thereof by the portable receptacle.

3. The catapult amusement device of claim 2 wherein the longitudinal-axis of the elongate bar at the normal-station thereof is substantially horizontaliand wherein the at least one projectile is loosely positionable upon the bar forward-portion.

4. The catapult amusement device of claim 1 wherein the forward-portion of the lever member is elongate and extends along a longitudinal-axis which is substantially perpendicular to the said transverse-axis, said lever forward-portion having an upper-side and also having a longitudinal-bore extending along said longitudinal-axis, said lever forward-portion having a forward-end and also having a forward-wall disposed between the lever forward-end and the forward terminus of the longitudinal-bore, said lever forward-portion being provided with an upright-bore extending downwardly from the forward-portion upper side and intersecting with the longitudinal-bore at the forward terminus thereof, said longitudinalbore at the lever forward-portion nonnal-station extending downwardly and forwardly from a horizontal plane passing through said transverse-axis; and wherein there is a plurality of dimensionally similar spherical projectiles rollably disposed along said longitudinal-bore and upwardly catapultable through said upright-bore freely upwardly away from the lever forward-portion.

5. A catapult amusement device comprising:

A. An upwardly extending base member;

B. An elongate lever member having a medial-portion pivotably attached as a fulcrum to an upper-portion of the base member with a pivotal-connection extending along a transverse-axis, said lever member having an elongate forward-portion extending along a longitudinal-axis, said lever forward-portion having an upper-side and also having a longitudinal-bore extending along said longitudinalaxis, said lever forward-portion having a forward-end and also having a forward-wall disposed between the lever forward-end and the forward terminus of the longitudinal-bore, said lever forward-portion being provided with an upright-bore extending downwardly from the forward-portion upper side and intersecting with the forward terminus of the longitudinal-bore, said longitudinal-axis of the lever forward portion extending normally downwardly and forwardly from a horizontal plane passing through said transverse-axis; said lever having a rearward-portion that is free to move downwardly upon the application thereto of sharp downward impact forces; and

C. A plurality of dimensionally similar spherical projectiles rollably disposed along said longitudinal-bore and upwardly freely catapultable through said upright-bore upon the application of sharp downward impact forces to the lever rearward-portion.

6. The catapult amusement device of claim 5 wherein there are means for imparting a rearward vectorial component to the upwardly catapultable spherical projectiles to facilitate capture thereof by the portable receptacle; wherein there are restraining means to prevent more than one projectile from being catapulted with each downward impact onto the lever rearward-portion; and wherein the combined weight of the lever elongate forward-portion together with that of the spherical projectiles exceeds that of the lever rearward-portion, and wherein the base member includes an abutment-surface for the lower side of the lever forward-portion, to provide the downward normal-station for the lever forward-portion.

7. The catapult amusement device of claim 6 wherein the base member comprises a substantially horizontal plate together with a clevis extending integrally upwardly from the plate; wherein the elongate lever member comprises an elongate bar having a finite length extending along a longitudinalaxis between a forward-end and a rearward-end for said bar, said elongate bar medial-portion nearer to the rearward-end thereof being disposed within said clevis and being pivotably attached thereto with a horizontal pivot-pin extending along said transverse-axis; wherein the relative length of the bar forward-portion to the rearward-portion is selectively variable; wherein the bar upright-bore extends upwardly and rearwardly from the bar longitudinal-axis; wherein intersecting portions of said circular upright-bore and said circular longitudinal-bore are substantially diametrically similar to that for the spherical projectiles to provide a restraining means; wherein the base member includes a threaded lug extending integrally upwardly from the base member plate forwardly of the clevis, said lug upper surface being disposed at a lower elevation than for said pivot-pin and providing said abutmentsurface; and wherein there is a mallet having a two-sided head portion, one of the mallet head sides being a s a striking-surface adapted to be struck downwardly against the lever rearward-portion and the other of said mallet head sides being as a receptacle for capturing an upwardly rearwardly catapulted spherical projectile. 

1. A catapult amusement device comprising: A. An upwardly extending base member; B. A lever member having a medial-portion pivotably attached as a fulcrum to an upper-portion of the base member with a pivotal-connection extending along a transverse-axis, said lever member having a rearward-portion extending rearwardly from the pivotal-connection and also having a forward-portion extending forwardly from said pivotal-connection, said lever member rearward-portion being free to move downwardly a finite distance upon the exertion thereto of downwardly sharply applied impact forces; C. Means to downwardly normally urge the lever forward-portion to a normal-station during the absence of said downward impact forces to the lever rearward-portion; D. At least one projectile carried by the lever forward-portion and adapted to be catapulted upwardly away from the lever forward-portion when the lever rearward-portion is briefly subjected to said sharp downward impact forces by the operator; and E. A portable mallet having a two sided head portion, one of the mallet head sides being a striking surface adapted to be struck downwardly against the lever rearward-portion and the other of said mallet head sides carrying a cup-like receptacle for retrieving the upwardly catapulted projectile.
 2. The catapult amusement device of claim 1 wherein the lever member is elongate comprising an elongate bar having a finite length extending along a longitudinal-axis which is substantially perpendicular to the said transverSe-axis, said elongate bar having a forward-end and a rearward-end; and wherein there are means for imparting a rearward vectorial component to the upwardly catapultable projectile to facilitate retrieval thereof by the portable receptacle.
 3. The catapult amusement device of claim 2 wherein the longitudinal-axis of the elongate bar at the normal-station thereof is substantially horizontal; and wherein the at least one projectile is loosely positionable upon the bar forward-portion.
 4. The catapult amusement device of claim 1 wherein the forward-portion of the lever member is elongate and extends along a longitudinal-axis which is substantially perpendicular to the said transverse-axis, said lever forward-portion having an upper-side and also having a longitudinal-bore extending along said longitudinal-axis, said lever forward-portion having a forward-end and also having a forward-wall disposed between the lever forward-end and the forward terminus of the longitudinal-bore, said lever forward-portion being provided with an upright-bore extending downwardly from the forward-portion upper side and intersecting with the longitudinal-bore at the forward terminus thereof, said longitudinal-bore at the lever forward-portion normal-station extending downwardly and forwardly from a horizontal plane passing through said transverse-axis; and wherein there is a plurality of dimensionally similar spherical projectiles rollably disposed along said longitudinal-bore and upwardly catapultable through said upright-bore freely upwardly away from the lever forward-portion.
 5. A catapult amusement device comprising: A. An upwardly extending base member; B. An elongate lever member having a medial-portion pivotably attached as a fulcrum to an upper-portion of the base member with a pivotal-connection extending along a transverse-axis, said lever member having an elongate forward-portion extending along a longitudinal-axis, said lever forward-portion having an upper-side and also having a longitudinal-bore extending along said longitudinal-axis, said lever forward-portion having a forward-end and also having a forward-wall disposed between the lever forward-end and the forward terminus of the longitudinal-bore, said lever forward-portion being provided with an upright-bore extending downwardly from the forward-portion upper side and intersecting with the forward terminus of the longitudinal-bore, said longitudinal-axis of the lever forward portion extending normally downwardly and forwardly from a horizontal plane passing through said transverse-axis; said lever having a rearward-portion that is free to move downwardly upon the application thereto of sharp downward impact forces; and C. A plurality of dimensionally similar spherical projectiles rollably disposed along said longitudinal-bore and upwardly freely catapultable through said upright-bore upon the application of sharp downward impact forces to the lever rearward-portion.
 6. The catapult amusement device of claim 5 wherein there are means for imparting a rearward vectorial component to the upwardly catapultable spherical projectiles to facilitate capture thereof by the portable receptacle; wherein there are restraining means to prevent more than one projectile from being catapulted with each downward impact onto the lever rearward-portion; and wherein the combined weight of the lever elongate forward-portion together with that of the spherical projectiles exceeds that of the lever rearward-portion, and wherein the base member includes an abutment-surface for the lower side of the lever forward-portion, to provide the downward normal-station for the lever forward-portion.
 7. The catapult amusement device of claim 6 wherein the base member comprises a substantially horizontal plate together with a clevis extending integrally upwardly from the plate; wherein the elongate lever member comprises an elongate bar having a finite length extending along a longitudinal-axis between a forward-end and a reArward-end for said bar, said elongate bar medial-portion nearer to the rearward-end thereof being disposed within said clevis and being pivotably attached thereto with a horizontal pivot-pin extending along said transverse-axis; wherein the relative length of the bar forward-portion to the rearward-portion is selectively variable; wherein the bar upright-bore extends upwardly and rearwardly from the bar longitudinal-axis; wherein intersecting portions of said circular upright-bore and said circular longitudinal-bore are substantially diametrically similar to that for the spherical projectiles to provide a restraining means; wherein the base member includes a threaded lug extending integrally upwardly from the base member plate forwardly of the clevis, said lug upper surface being disposed at a lower elevation than for said pivot-pin and providing said abutment-surface; and wherein there is a mallet having a two-sided head portion, one of the mallet head sides being a s a striking-surface adapted to be struck downwardly against the lever rearward-portion and the other of said mallet head sides being as a receptacle for capturing an upwardly rearwardly catapulted spherical projectile. 